Mobile Broadband
- Compare all providers
- Deals from £9.79
- 15Gb data from
- £15 Exclusive Offers
Free Laptops
- Compare all providers
- Deals from £20 p/m
- Wide range of laptops
Home Broadband
- Compare all providers
- Deals from £7.34
- Free phone calls
- Free wireless router
Broadband and slow pc problems and fixes checklist
Recommended PC repair and IT services
If your broadband is running slow it may be due to a problem with your pc or router. If you are unable to fix the problem after running through our check list we have listed a number of pc repair and IT services that specialise in fixing these types of problems.
| Name | Telephone | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Crazy Pages IT services | 08712 239 311 | |
| The IT Man (Covering Abingdon, Wallingford and Didcot) | 07828 657 162 | |
| Budget PC Solutions, Oxfordshire | 01865 749 159 | |
| PC Repairs Kent | 01322 624 145 07730 111 261 |
Contact |
Common problems and fixes for ADSL broadband
With an ever increasing number of internet service providers (ISPs) now offering ADSL broadband services and more manufacturers making ADSL modems and routers, many users can often find it both difficult and time consuming getting help or advice when they have problems with their broadband services. This guide deals with the basic issues many users face when trying to access the internet using ADSL broadband and how to fix these problems
When using ADSL broadband users normally have the choice of getting all their equipment from the service provider and can even have it set up for them. Alternatively they can opt for getting the ADSL router or modem and set it up themselves. In either of these situations users can often have problems of some kind getting onto the internet and this can often be fixed by performing a few basic checks.
Checking the cabling on the ADSL modem or router
The main check is always the cabling as this is often the biggest cause of problems with regards to getting ADSL broadband to work. The way in which ADSL broadband is set up is usually pretty standard and begins at the BT socket in the wall. Connected to the wall socket is an ADSL filter which allows users to plug in a network cable and a phone and the sockets in the filter are different sizes to prevent the wrong cable from being plugged in. The network cable then plugs into the router or modem and needs to be plugged into the ADSL socket to work. Then either another network cable or a USB cable connects from the router and plugs into the desktop PC or laptop. The only time this is not the case is when the system is connecting wirelessly. Checking that all these cables are connected correctly and the router or modem is turned on is always the first thing to check and it is often worth looking at the installation instructions or if necessary contacting the service provider just to be sure.
Troubleshooting the ADSL modem or router lights
Another thing to check are the lights on the router or modem, although this can be slightly more complicated as different devices use different light configurations and names to show whether they are set up correctly. It is highly recommended that the user guide from the service provider or manufacturer of the device is used to understand what the different lights mean. Usually there are a two or three lights that are important on the router or modem and they are the power light, the DSL light and sometimes the wireless connectivity light. Obviously the power light indicates that the device has power to it and is the first thing to check; the DSL light shows that the device can access the internet; and the wireless light shows that the router is available to other wireless systems like a wireless laptop.
These lights usually have three different states and two different colours to show what is wrong. The light states are OFF, FLASHING and SOLID with a SOLID usually indicating that this area is working, and either FLASHING or OFF indicating that there is something wrong or an area is not available. The light colours are usually green or amber, with green usually indicating that things are okay and amber indicating that there is a problem.
Problems with speed
Many people have problems with the speed of their Internet, which can be very frustrating. There may be a number of factors that can contribute to speed issues. This includes:
- Your distance from the BT exchange - you can actually contact BT, provide them with your postcode, and they will advise what the maximum speed that you are able to achieve will be
- If you are having problems with speed whilst working wirelessly you may find that the speed is being affected by your distance from the wireless router. The router may therefore need to be repositioned.
- You may find that the way in which the software on your computer is set up can also adversely affect speed, so you may need to get the configuration checked, which can be done by a computer specialist or online.
